The
Chausie is a breed of
hybrid jungle
cat characterized by its
wild appearance and
sweet temperament.
Characteristics
The overall appearance of the Chausie is much like that of its ancestor, the
jungle cat. It generally comes in
black,
brown ticked
tabby, and
silver pointed colors. All of these colors share a leopard pattern on the chest and legs. The cat is large, muscular, and
sleek; small Chausies are a rarity indeed.
The face has a wild look to it, with a long, sloping forehead and prominent
cheekbones. The eyes are
walnut-shaped and usually gold, and occasionally hazel and light or bright green. The
ears are large, and long ear tufts are highly desirable as well as attractive.
The Chausie's body gives an
athletic impression; it is a strong and well-muscled cat build for jumping and running. The
torso is rectangular and narrow, and the legs are long. In show cats, the tail must be long, straight, and
flexible, because a tail that is to short indicates a mutated gene.
Breeding
Breeding of
exotic jungle cats such as the Chausie is an exact
science, and generations are kept track of carefully. The hybrids are usually referred to by the letter F and a number, such as F1, F2, or F3. 'F' stands for the
filial generation. The number stands for how many generations the cat is away from its wild ancestors. F1s, for example, the result of wild jungle cats mated with
domestic cats, have half wild blood and half domestic. Most F1, 2, and 3 males are unable to
reproduce.
Information found at:
http://www.chausie.net/chausie.html
http://www.tica.org/custd03.pdf
http://www.breedlist.com/chausie-breeders.html